anti satellite weapons: a likely future trajectory...higher range missiles were introduced taking...
TRANSCRIPT
Anti Satellite Weapons: A Likely
Future Trajectory
Lt Gen (Dr) Vijay Kumar Saxena (Retd), PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Occasional Paper – May 2016
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About the Author
Lt Gen (Dr) Vijay Kumar Saxena (Retd), PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Lt Gen Saxena is a former Director General of the Corps Army Air
Defence. The officer, as a Scholar Warrior, is a distinguished member
of the country’s strategic community, and is a prolific writer on
military subjects. He has authored 5 Books, two on Air Defence, two on
United Nations and one on Combat Leadership.
The General is regularly published in a host of Professional Magazines
and Journals, month-on-month. He has to his credit, some 85 Articles
on a wide spectrum of subjects and counting. Besides the kernel of Air
Defence as his core competency, the General has developed alternative
writing verticals on Space subjects, the Unmanned and a special
expertise in the Defence Procurement Procedures. Off late the General
has also started appearing on TV shows carrying programmes related
to his domain of expertise.
Gen Saxena, holds a Doctorate with his thesis on the ‘Future of the
United Nations in the 21st Century’. Besides this, he is a NLSIU scholar
with qualifications in Human Rights and Child Rights Law.
Immediately post his colour Service in Jun 15, the General is RE-
ATTIRED and is serving the cause of Services as an Advisor Army to a
leading DPSU of the country
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Anti Satellite Weapons: A Likely
Future Trajectory
Anti Satellite Weapons (ASAT) weapons, as the name goes, are the
space weapons that are capable of destroying space assets of the
opponent for the purpose as may be intended by the attacker. My case
in this piece to flag the point, that such class of weapons, in the hands
of the leading space faring nations are growing at a feverish pace. And
the irony is that the current body of legalese in the form of Space Laws
are incapable and/or impotent in checking the menacing upward
growth of such weapons. If we continue at today's unforgiving pace, it
will not be an act of fancy to imagine a war of adversaries in the space
out to destroy each other and one another's satellites (and collaterals,
sic) and thus crippling a whole mankind for what they depend so
hugely on today. A world unimaginable without communications,
smart phones, navigation, internet, GPS, global connect, planetary data
share and more, may be closer to reality than one thought.
ASATs have not suddenly appeared from The Mother of ASATs:
nowhere; the concept of ASAT weapons has evolved over time as a
logical progression from the mother concept of Anti Ballistic Missiles
(ABM) or its more recent coinage, the Ballistic Missile defence (BMD) -
a Missile-based defence against the adversary's threat of Ballistic
Missiles. How and when the BMD ushered in the ASAT, is an interesting
metamorphosis
Along the tide and time, three specific eras are The Three Era.
detectable in coming of age of the ASATs through the BMD kernel.
● The first era belongs to 1950s and 60s, when, in the midst of the Cold
War fever, the then two space faring Nations, i.e. the US and erstwhile
Soviet Union, thought of countering the adversary's ballistic missiles
by putting nuclear tipped interceptors atop their ICBMs. Those were
the exciting times of the 'show of mighty force'. One heard of the US
Spartan, Nike, Sprint, and Sentinel while the Soviet counter power
was carried on the likes of Griffin, Galosh. Gazelle and Gorgon ICBMs
● The impracticality of exploding huge nuclear warheads in space for
the cause of BMD, the danger of collateral spread of catastrophic
radiations and the sheer inaccuracy of nuclear tipped monsters in
killing something as precise as an incoming ballistic missile (probably
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only a residual stage or a warhead section), actually caused the death
to the idea and the practice of nuclear-tipped monsters as BMD
arsenal.
● This NO GO scenario ushered the next era of non-nuclear hit-to-kill
interceptors based on Kinetic kill. Somewhere around this time in Mar
1983, came the bright idea of Strategic defence Initiative (SDI).It
promised the next level of technology to kill the adversary’s incoming
ballistic missiles. One heard of the grandiose plans to deploy high-
powered lasers, orbiting X ray lasers, particle beam weapons and
'brilliant weapons'.
President Bill Clinton, later finding the SDI unrealistic and carrying the
danger of destabilising the Strategic Offensive Doctrine based on
Mutually Assured Destruction dissolved it and set pace for its
successor organisation, called the BMDO (Ballistic Missile Defence
Organisation). BMDO aimed to put in place, a missile defence regime
based on the concept of layered-and-tiered deployment. In this,
weapons were fielded for different layers of altitude, viz Lower
Tier/Upper Tier and Strategic Tier. Cumulatively, these systems aimed
to take on the incoming ballistic missiles of the adversary in various
stages of their incoming flight from the boost to mid-course to the
terminal phase. We are in these current exciting times when the
science and technology is trying to inch forward to take on multiple
challenges to kill the adversary’s incoming missiles as early as possible
(post launch) in their journey to their targeted destinations. Some of
these challenges include the boost phase interception/ taking on
MIRVs prior to re-entry/ linking up space based surveillance assets
with ground and air based sensors/ placing soft powered interceptors
in space for ready kill of incoming missile threats, et al.
Actually ASATs as a concept, never made any dramatic Enter ASAT.
(never before) entry in the above BMD growth cycle. ASAT as an idea,
grew alongside BMD and initially manifested as BMD systems taking on
satellites instead of incoming missiles. Initial systems were based on
kinetic kill, later on other more technologically enabled avatars of
ASATs appeared. The ones based on laser or particle beam weapons or
as micro satellites capable of co-orbital killings. This threatening trend
of ASAT development is growing menacingly with China in the
forefront. That is the issue.
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A Snapshot on ASAT Weapons1,2
Without clogging the main argument with avoidable factuals, here is a
snapshot of ASAT weapons in the hands of the leading space faring
nations.
US has been through it all and cutting edge research continues: USA.
ASAT development started in fifties (1958-59) with the nuclear tipped
Air Launched Ballistic Missiles (ALBMs) atop strategic bombers
(initially B 47 later B 58). The weapon was tested on the American
satellite Explorer VI. The Interceptor passed 6.4 Km of the satellite. A
huge success.
In early sixties, a Direct ascent interceptor was developed. It used a
ground ballistic missile tipped with a nuclear warhead (Programme
505). It was tested in early sixties, several times. The weapon could
successfully intercept a designated point in space at 100 miles. Later,
higher range missiles were introduced taking the capability to target
satellites as high as, 1300 km (Programme 437).3
In eighties, an F 15 aircraft was used to launch AGM 69 Short Range Air
to Surface Missile as a launch vehicle that carried a Miniature Vehicle
(MV) as the payload (ASM 135 ASAT). The MV used an IR sensor to
home on the target satellite. Taken through five tests, the weapon
destroyed a US P-78-1 spectroscopy satellite at 285 km.
In 2008, Aegis Missile system employing a ship-fired RIM 161 Standard
Missile 3 was used to destroy a US spy satellite USA 193 at an altitude
of 247 km.
The higher versions of the Aegis missile system having the range
capability between 1450-2350 Km are under development. This
capability will virtually encompass all the operational satellites in Low
Earth Orbit (LEO) that includes 100 Chinese and Russian Satellites. The
system was to start testing in 2015 and was to be operational in 2018.
1 http:// www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/anti-satellite weapon 2 https://www.thespacereview.com.article.through-a-glass-darkly-chinese-american-and Russian-anti-satellite-testing-in-space;Page1,page2,Page3 3 https://www.forum.nasaspaceflight.com>Anti-Sat Weapons (Programme 437 (US Nuclear ASAT system
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Apart from hard kill, US is known to have the capability of soft kill
(Counter Communication Systems) having a capability to interfere with
adversary's use of a satellite (Jamming/ Radio frequency interference
techniques et al).
Soviet Union/Russia:
Unlike the US, Russia and China preferred a co-orbital ASAT weapons.
The first system in this category (Istrebitel Sputnikov or fighter
satellite consisted of a kill vehicle and a launch vehicle based on an
ICBM (R 36). After being placed in the orbit, the kill vehicle would
manoeuvre to intercept the target satellite and detonate on-board
explosives. It was tested successfully several times in sixties, seventies
and eighties on Cosmos series of satellites. Over time, targeting
altitudes were increased (up to 2000 km) and reaction times to sync
with the target satellite were reduced (number of orbits required by
the ASAT to home on to their target).
As years rolled, another rocket based hit-to-kill system (Naryad
System) with a capability to go up to tremendously high altitudes
(40,000 kms) as an upper stage of a satellite vehicle was developed.
Once in orbit, the rocket system had the capability to independently
manoeuvre and home in on multiple target satellites before exploding.
In response to the US ASM 135, Russians developed a direct ascent
ASAT system (Kontakt System) using a Mig 31 D fighter mated with a
33 ft long interceptor (it reached a maximum altitude of 1500 km into
space). Accurate tracking of target satellite was ensured by a ground
based laser optical locator. This ASAT was capable of destroying up to
36 satellites in less than 24 hours.
Open sources reported the testing of the new Russian ASAT missile
called Nudol on 18 Nov 2015. Nudol is a direct ascent missile system
with a capability to take on target satellites in kinetic kill mode.
Reportedly, Nodol may be a part of Project Samolet - M , a project to
upgrade the Moscow missile defence.
Russia's 2010 Military Doctrine emphasises space as a crucial
component of its defence strategy which gives high priority to conduct
of ASAT research and employment of satellite jammers.Russian
President has stated in open media that Russia is following China in
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building state-of-the-art-weapons that would guarantee the fulfilment
of space defence tasks for the period until 2020.4,5
China.6
Open sources report that among the various space faring nations, China
is developing its ASAT capability at the most feverish pace. Reportedly,
Chinese ASAT weapons are under development ever since 1964
(Programme 640). The initial aim was to develop an ABM missile but
around 1970, it started an ASAT programme.
Three types of ASAT systems are under development, namely, Direct
Ascent Systems, Soft Kill Systems and Micro satellites.
Direct Ascent Systems feature a land-based missile that is directed
against the target satellite as a kinetic kill vehicle. The launch of SC 19
Missile on 11 Jan 2007 to kill the ageing FY -1C polar orbit satellite of
the Fengyun Series was the apt demonstration of this capability.
Though the above was a land-based launch, open sources report of a
similar capability having been created to launch SC 19 class of missiles
from Lin class of submarines. That 2007 ASAT test has been classified
as the highest man-made debris generation event in the history so far,
is another huge concern.
Another SC 19 Missile destroyed an MRBM (CSS-X-11) in 2010. Though
the act was of ABM defence, it was also seen as a reinforcement of the
ASAT capability demonstrated in 2007.
In the soft kill capability, China is reportedly developing high power
laser and microwave weapons that can either disrupt or electrically
damage a satellite. One such high power laser is under development
since 1995 and was tested on an orbiting US satellite 2006.
In 2008, the two astronauts on board Shenzhou 7 reportedly released a
microsatellite that flew at a relative speed of 17000 mph and passed
dangerously close (27 Km) to the International Space Station (ISS). At
such relative speeds, a possible collision could have destroyed both the
objects.
4 http://www.nationalsecurity.news/russia-now-testing-anti-satellite-weapon.
5 http://www.natonalinterest.org/get-ready-america-russian-and-chinese-have-space-weapons. 6 https://www.en.m.wikipedia.org>wiki> asat-program-of-china
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In May 2013, the Dong Neng 2 (DN -2) ASAT interceptor test kicked up
quite a storm in expert circles of space-faring nations. It launched an
object on a high sub-orbital altitude more than 18600 miles. While
China claimed it to be scientific payload to study the upper ionosphere,
analyst described it as a ASAT system with a capability to enter deep
space and threaten target satellites across the entire altitude bracket of
geo-centric orbits (Low Earth Orbits or LEO - up to 2000 km, Medium
Earth Orbits or MEO - 2000 km to 35786 Km and High Earth Orbits or
HEO - higher than 35.786 Km). Mystery still surrounds this test.
According to a 2015 Report by the US-China Economic and Security
Review Commission, PLA assesses that US satellites are critical to the
country's ability to sustain operations globally. Destroying or capturing
satellites and other sensors will deprive the opponent, the initiative on
the battlefield and will make it difficult for them to bring their
precision-guided munitions into full play.
Open sources reported that above was followed in Oct 15, with another
test of an Exo-atmospheric vehicle (DN-3) based on the principle of
catastrophic kinetic kill. The Report of Chinese building space warfare
arsenal at a fast pace have been rife all along in the early months of
2016.
India.7
Open sources have gone this far as to talk about the ASAT capability of
India? Mercifully, the expert opinion is stopping at the capability and
not any further. Intentions could be any.
Mention is being made of 5000 km Agni V that travelled up to 600 kms
in space during its last parabolic trajectory. This capability is being
mated with the kinetic kill vehicle of the Indian BMD Programme
(Programme AD) to produce an Exo-atmospheric kill system.
Normally an ASAT weapon is to reach about 800 km into space. The
current capability can be easily enhanced since that will be a function
of propulsion boost only.
7 https://www.ibcworldnews.com>indian-defence’s-new-target:Anti-Satellite-Weapons
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I will stop this here without any comments. Let open sources keep the
ambiguity alive - capability/possibility/intention?
Factuals as above, actually, mean only a pot-The So-What Question.
pouri collection of data unless it leads to the big picture. The answer to
the ‘So What question’. Towards this, I present the following :-
● What is the emerging position?
● Are the ASAT tests legal? If not, can the proliferation of ASAT be
controlled?
● The Bottom-line
Emerging Position.
Where is the doubt that that the ASAT idea was born with the dawn of
space age itself. Its precursor was the ABM defence. ABM/BMD to ASAT
is a smooth/seamless and logical transition.For a brief time period at
the height of Cold War, when the national space systems of the main
players became an increasingly important part of the National
Technical Means of Verification (NTMV) for various Arms Control
Agreements, the interest in ASAT weaned, but with the demise of Cold
War, the pace picked up tremendously.
It is an open secret that all the leading space-faring nations are actively
pursuing counter-space capabilities which broadly include Direct
Ascent Anti Satellite Missiles, Co-orbital Anti Satellite Systems,
Computer Network Operations, Ground Based Satellite Jammers, and
Directed Energy weapons.
If we go by the open source, then China seems to be leading the ASAT
race with Russia in a close tow. These are capable of directly
threatening the US space lifeline in any future conflict.Though many a
lamenting voices are being heard on US strategic vulnerabilities, on
how the Congressional cuts in space funding is putting US at a strategic
disadvantage, this analyst believes that no one is any less. If you nearly
control the global open source, you tell less about you than others.
However, a discerning mind knows that there is more than what meets
the eye. I say this in context of US though some of their SOS cries are
viable.
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The technology revamping up the ABM capability from the terminal to
mid-course interception has come as a shot in the arm for the ASAT
capability that has got a quantum range-altitude boost, especially in the
category of hit-to-kill ASAT weapons. In fact, all midcourse Ballistic
systems have inherent ASAT capabilities.
There has been a self-defeating effort on the part of US to create a
duality between the midcourse BMD systems (say SM 3) and the direct
ascent Kinetic energy interceptors (like the Chinese SC 19). By calling
the former as low-altitude direct ascent interceptor and the later, as
kinetic energy weapon . It is like calling the Peter, Pam when both are
same. The typical Mine OK yours Not OK syndrome. It doesn't really
carry.
The race to acquire ASAT capability is going on unabated. One nation
setting a challenging pace and putting the others in a vicious merry-go-
round.
Are ASATs legal?
Before seeing the legality, let me put the weaponisation and
militarisation argument to rest. How does it sound when I say that with
all the humdrum at the global level of using the outer space - the
‘province of mankind’ for ‘peaceful purposes’, the same, technically
speaking, long stands weaponised, what to talk of its militarisation,
that happened ab-initio. That is the truth, as I will unfold in technical
terms in due course.
Moreover, putting legality aside, the ASAT tests of the leading space-
faring Nations are going unhindered- Chinese ASAT test in January
2007, 2008, 2013, 2016...US ASAT tests 2008, 2010.. Russians ASAT
tests 2010, 2014 ,2015.... The world is crying hoarse over the debris
issue causing an EXISTENTIAL THREAT to the common asset of the
humanity on which the entire Planet has come to depend LIKE NEVER
BEFORE .... Who cares?
Why it is happening unabated? Why nobody Why? The Big Question.
can crack a whip. Sample this commentary:-
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The OST, 1967 or more formally, ‘The Treaty or Principles Governing
the Activities of States in Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including
Moon and Other Celestial Bodies’, not only forms the basis for
International Space Laws, but also, has the widest acceptability in the
world community (as of Sep 2015, 104 countries are a party to the
treaty, another 24 have signed but not completed the ratification).8
In its essence, the OST lays down (only relevant portions quoted) the
following:-
It bars the States Parties from placing nuclear weapons or any other
weapons of mass destruction in the orbit of earth, installing them on
Moon or any other celestial body or to otherwise station them in
space9.
It exclusively limits the use of Moon and other celestial bodies to
peaceful purposes and explicitly prohibits their use for testing of
weapons of any kind, conducting military manoeuvres or establishing
military bases, installations and fortifications.
It forbids any government from claiming a celestial resource such as
Moon or a planet. It forbids natural opportunities of outer space,
including Moon and other celestial bodies.
A State Party to the Treaty which has reasons to believe that any
activity or an experiment planned by other State Party in outer space
including the Moon and other celestial bodies, would cause potentially
‘harmful interference’ with activities on peaceful exploration of outer
space including the Moon and other celestial bodies may ‘request
consultation’ concerning the activity or experiment.
The above provisions have glaring inadequacies. For instance:
● The treaty does not prohibit the development, placement and testing
of conventional weapons in the outer space.
8 https://www.en.m.wikipedia>wiki>outer-space-treaty
9 http://www.State.gov>...>current-treaties-and-agreements
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● It does not prohibit a ground based weapon making a direct/ indirect
ascent into outer space and killing an orbital body.
● It also does not prohibit a space based weapon (Kinetic Energy or
Directed Energy) to kill another satellite or orbital target in outer
space or to kill ballistic missiles transiting outer space in the post
boost/re-entry phase.
● By implication, military activities in outer space are allowed unless
specifically prohibited by any Treaty.
● Also, there are glaring definitional inadequacies in the legalese of the
OST. Some examples :-
▪ What constitutes space or a space weapon is not defined.
▪ Accepted demarcation of the boundary between the air space
under national sovereignty and outer space has not been
defined.
▪ What constitutes ‘peaceful use of space’ (by exclusion, what is
not peaceful?) What the US understands it as ‘non aggressive’
while the Russians see it as ‘wholly non-military’ is actually
not specifically accepted/defined.
▪ What constitutes ‘harmful interference’; is shrouded in
ambiguity.
The Treaty, adopted through the UN process, is non-binding and
devoid of any enforcement mechanism. Responsibility towards
discharge is only ‘assumed’.
In fact, under the garb of ‘peaceful use’ and ‘scientific research for
peaceful purposes’, as enshrined in the OST, US, China and Russia have
put a perfectly legal cover over their hectic development of space
technologies capable of military applications.
Judging against the above loopholes, the ASAT tests of China, US and
Russia would appear to be perfectly legal. That is however not the
whole truth as the same could be faulted under Article IX of OST, as
also, under Liability Convention.
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This is how Article IX of OST mandates the State Parties to conduct
activities in outer space, including the Moon and other celestial
bodies, with due regard to the corresponding interests of all other State
Parties to the Treaty.
It forbids them from conducting such activities which would cause
‘harmful interference’ with activities of other State.
State Parties are also to avoid harmful contamination and adverse
changes in the environment of the Earth resulting from the
introduction of ‘extra-terrestrial matter’ (in outer space)10.
Let’s talk about one sample case--the Chinese ASAT A Sample Case..
test of 2007 which as I said, has been classified as the highest
manmade debris generation event in the history so far11. Sample this:-
➢ As of September 2010, the US Space Surveillance Network (SSN) has
picked a total of 3037 pieces of debris greater than 10 cms, 97% of
which have remained in the orbit12.
➢ Scientists estimate about 1,50,000 debris particles in altitudes
between 200-4000 kms, 79% of which will remain in orbit for 100
years13.
➢ The debris has spread throughout the entire orbit resulting in a cloud
of debris around earth. This is the largest debris cloud ever generated
by a single event in the orbit.
➢ As of January 2007, there were 2864 active or inactive satellites in
LEO out of which 1899 pass through the region now affected by
Chinese debris.
➢ In April 2011, debris of the Chinese test passed close to the
‘International Space Station14.
10 http/www. Unoosa.org/oosa/space laws/outer spt. html 11Orbital Debris Quarterly News’ Volume 14 Issue 4 Oct 2010. http://www.orbital debris.jse.nasa.gov/news letter/news letters.html. 12Dr Ranjana Kaul, “ Space Security’ Legal Implications p-207 carried in Ed. Ajay Lele, Gunjan Singh, “Space Security and Global Cooperation”, Academic Foundation
New Delhi. 13 Brig Rajat Jairath, “Quest for Space : The Indian Connect”, KW Publishers Pvt Ltd, New Delhi. 14 NASA Monitoring Space Junk near International Space Station CNN Apr 5, 2011.
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➢ In January 2013, a Russian nano satellite [Ball Lens in The Space
(BLITS)] was destroyed by the debris15.
The illegality of the Chinese ASAT lays bare The Illegality Continues. not only in the gross violation of Article IX of the OST, but also, a potential threat to the space assets of other State Parties for decades ahead. Similar is the story of US and Russian ASAT tests.
Also, under the Liability Convention 1972 (The Liability Convention.
Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space
Objects), a State Party is responsible for all the objects launched from
its territory into space and is full liable for the damage that may arise
from that object. The damage (done/likely) from the Chinese ASAT
must also therefore rest equally on their shoulders.
While the other space laws like the Other Legalese Also Ambiguous.
Rescue Agreement 1968, the Registration Convention 1975, the Moon
Agreement 1979 and International Space Laws governing
disbursement of finite GEO slots by the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) are all full of crippling inadequacies,
the space constraints prohibit the author from a detailed commentary
on each one of the above.
Though mentioned in passing earlier, lets revisit the A Revisit.
technicalities in militarisation/weaponisation from the point of view of
a legal argument.
As per the definition, militarization of space simply Militarization.
implies the placement and deployment of weapons and military
technology in the outer space. By this definition, the Space was
militarized ever since the earliest communication satellites were
launched, since that implied the deployment of military communication
technology in the Space. Today, militaries all over the world rely on
satellites for command, control, communication, monitoring, early
warning and navigation with GPS. Peaceful uses of outer space thus
include military uses. This includes even those satellites which are not
15 http://www.the diplomat.com/2013/09/the rise-of-chinese-space-junk/2/
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at all peaceful such as using satellites to divert bombing raids or to
orchestrate a ‘prompt global strike’ with a view to control any situation
or to defeat any adversary across the range of military operations. With
more than 90% of all satellites dedicated to military use, truly speaking
militarisation of outer space occurred with the first satellite16.
Talking of Weaponisation, the same is generally Weaponisation.
understood to mean the placement in orbit of space-based devices that
have a destructive capability. What about millions of pieces of space
debris created by the deliberate acts of the countries (ASAT tests)
which have tremendous destruction capability for the space assets of
other countries? What about the ongoing cutting-edge research on the
‘kinetic kill’ or ‘Directed Energy kill weapons’ placed in space orbits,
ready to take on incoming ballistic missiles in their post-boost phase,
when these missiles are transiting the outer space. These dual use
weapons, taking on a Ballistic Missile could as well take on the space
assets? The bottom line is that the weaponisation of outer space is now
a reality. In fact the same is fast fuelling the global arms race17.
The examination of the above legalities thus brings out the following :-
The current regime of Space Laws have glaring inadequacies, both in
the ambivalence and ambiguities of the legalese, as well as, the non-
specificity of the rules-of-the-road.
Though the ASAT tests by China, US Russia and others have been
executed, these are not only illegal in terms of the OST 1967, but also,
the same have created a near permanent existential threat to the
space assets of other nations.
While militarization of outer space happened with the first satellite
the outer space is fast being weaponised leading to a crippling and
self-defeating arms race in the future18.
16 http://www.reaching critical/ will org/resources/fact-sheets. 17 http://www.globalissues.org>Issues/Articles/militarization and weaponisation of Outer Space. 18 http://www.stratfor.com/the-real-danger-from-space-weapons -feb 2016
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And now the bottom-line:
● TECHNICALLY, THE ASAT TESTS ARE ILLEGAL.
● NOTWITHSTANDING, THESE ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE UNABATED.
● IN THE COMING YEARS, ASATs ARE POISED TO GROW, CAUGHT IN A DUBIOUS AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE ARMS RACE.
● AS FUTURE TECHNOLOGY MAKES MORE AND MORE COUNTRIES TO AFFORD AND LAUNCH SATELLITES, WORLDWIDE SATELLITE VULNERABILITY TO ASATS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.
● EVER INCREASING SPACE DEBRIS HAS REACHED A TIPPING POINT. THIS GROWING MONSTER IS PLUNGING THE SPACE ASSETS OF THE PLANET IN A CRIPPLING EXISTENTIAL THREAT. ( This is a vertical demanding separate analysis)
Like someone said:-
WORLD WAR III IN SPACE?
IT IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.....
THE DRAGON LEAPS TO NEW HEIGHTS, OTHERS CHASE...
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fostering actionable ideas for the nation’s stakeholders.
Since its establishment, VIF has successfully embarked on quality
research and scholarship in an effort to highlight issues in
governance and strengthen national security. This is being
actualized through numerous activities like seminars, round
tables, interactive-dialogues, Vimarsh (public discourse),
conferences and briefings. The publications of the VIF form the
lasting deliverables of the organisation’s aspiration to impact on
the prevailing discourse on issues concerning India’s national
interest.
VIVEKANANDA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
3, San Martin Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021 Tel: 011-24121764, Fax: +91-11-24106698
Email: [email protected], Website: http://www.vifidia.org